Motherwell form factor dismissed as ex-captain explains Graham Alexander admiration ahead of Hibs Scottish Cup clash

Motherwell manager Graham Alexander played over 1,000 games as a player - and that tells former Fir Park captain Peter Hartley all he needs to know about the boss in ML1.

Alexander's side face Hibs in Scottish Cup quarter-final action this afternoon as they look to return to Hampden for the first time since 2018.

Hartley formed part of the dressing room which reached the 2017/18 League Cup and Scottish Cup finals, losing both to Celtic.

The Steelmen haven't won a league game in 2022 and it has brought scrutiny upon Alexander and his squad. But Hartley reckons Motherwell are still having a successful season.

Fully in the hunt for European football and with a potential trip to Hampden awaiting, the Jamshedpur centre-back believes Alexander has to be backed for success, and that league form is irrelevant today.

Speaking on the , Hartley said: "The league form doesn't matter when you are going into cup games. The league form hasn't been good as of late but I think they've had a successful season.

"I just hope they get past Hibs as the Motherwell fans deserve something to dream about.

"I think they've got a fantastic manager and it's somebody I respect a lot because of the age he played up to as a player.

"When you have a manager like that, you know he lives his life in the right way and he's a thorough professional. So I really hope they do well.

"It's for everyone, for the manager, for the group of players he has got. I think they will go from strength to strength over the next couple of years if he gets the backing."

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